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Obituaries for the week of Feb. 4 to Feb. 8

February 15, 2002 12:00 am

George Richardson

George Gerald Richardson, 81, a lifetime resident of Baker County, died Feb. 7, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.

His funeral will be Monday at 1 p.m. at the Baker City Elks Lodge, No. 388, 1896 Second St. Pastor Ralph Holcomb of the Baker City Christian Church will officiate. Ritualistic rites will be accorded by the Baker Elks Lodge, and military rites will be accorded by Baker City American Legion Post No. 41. Vault interment will be in Mount Hope Cemetery.

Visitations will be Monday from 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m at the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St.

George was born May 15, 1920, in the Keating area to Francis Wallace and Elizabeth Agnes Richardson. He spent his entire life in Baker County except for the time he spent in the Army defending our country in World War II.

George worked on his parents dairy farm and properties in the Richland area, and then was a log truck driver in Richland. In 1949, he purchased the Richfield Oil Agency in Baker City. By the time he retired in 1975, he and his wife, Jeanne, had owned several gas stations, the Arco Oil distributorship, the Goodyear dealership, and the Caveman Camper dealership in Baker City.

George was a man of many talents. He invented and began patent papers on the The Sqaw, a self-propelled mini tractor with winch; several fishing lures; and his favorite, The Picnic Ant. He painted many watercolors that his family will cherish forever. He also taught himself the art of making stained glass pictures. His work can be seen all over Baker County in homes, churches, the Elks Lodge and several businesses. Hunting was a part of his life from childhood. He was a crack shot and enjoyed taking his entire family and many friends on hunting expeditions.

George was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post No. 3048, American Legion Post No. 41, and the Baker Elks Lodge, No. 338. The Elks held an extremely important place in his heart. He was a past exalted ruler, district deputy, state Elks Scholarship chairman, and sergeant at arms to the state Elks president.

George loved God and was a member of the Christian Church in Baker City. Until his health prevented it, his favorite thing was going to church with Jeanne, Nicki and Michelle. He was a loving and caring father and grandfather. He was always there to support and guide his children in the good and the bad times. All of his grandchildren spent a great deal of time learning about life, hunting, and pride from him.

The family and togetherness were very important to George. He believed in and taught absolute truth and honesty. We will all remember him with love and admiration.

George is survived by his Little Doll, Jeanne, to whom he was married for 57 years; his son and daughter-in-law, George and Joanne Richardson; his daughter Nicki and her children, Allen, George and Michelle Worral; a great-grandchild, Chaz Worral; and numerous nephews, cousins and friends are left behind to remember him.

George was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Earl and Bob Richardson; his sister, Erma King; and two grandsons, Trent Richardson and Roger Worral.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the Meadowwood Speech Camp or the Elks Youth Scholarship Fund. This may be done through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.

Emily Jo Martin

Emily Jo Martin, 87, of Milwaukie, a former longtime Baker City resident, died Feb. 5, 2002, at the Willamette Falls Hospital at Oregon City.

Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Gladstone Christian Church.

Emily Jo Gholston was born on March 17, 1914, at Stonewall County, Texas. She worked as a registered nurse at St. Elizabeth Community Hospital in Baker City for 35 years. She retired in 1983. She moved to the Gladstone and Milwaukie areas from Baker City in 1996.

Mrs. Martin was a member of the Gladstone Christian Church and the Baker City Christian Church. She was on of the first presidents of the Baker City Nurses Association and a 50-year member of the Baker City Garden Club.

Survivors include her sons, Valton and Landon Martin; a daughter, Chleo Pearson; and sisters, Carol Ulery and Noma Himmel.

Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of ones choice. The Family Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Grays West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Brother Edward Smink of St. Elizabeth Health Services will officiate.

Visitations will be until 8 oclock tonight at Grays West & Co.

Mr. Schuff was born on Oct. 26, 1913, at Lentz to Albert and Nelda Schuff. He graduated from Benson High School and worked as an electrician, becoming co-owner of a local electric motor repair shop.

He married Lillian Boyens in 1946. They raised two children: Allan and Lois.

After hunting and fishing over many areas of Oregon, the couple fell in love with the Baker area. They decided to retire to Baker City in 1973. They settled in the Stices Gulch area where they enjoyed the wildlife and hunting and fishing opportunities in the area.

Survivors include his two children, Allan Schuff, and his wife, Nancy, of Milwaukie and Lois Emerson and her husband, Don, of Baker City; two brothers, Edward and William Schuff, both of Portland; and three grandchildren, April Schuff of Portland, Jena Emerson of Laramie, Wyo., and Ty Emerson of Baker City.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lillian.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Presley Wayne Scholarship Fund through Grays West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.

Ruth Lewis

Ruth Everest Lewis, 90, of Roseburg, a former Baker City resident, died Feb. 2, 2002, at a private home in Roseburg.

Her private family graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Morris Hills Cemetery at Boise under the direction of Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel.

Ruth Everest Lewis was born in 1911 at White Bird, Idaho. She was the first of the five children born to Ethel Bourland Everest and George A. Everest. The family soon moved to Grangeville, Idaho.

Ruth was educated in the Grangeville, Idaho, and Brownsville, N.Y., schools and then entered Blair Business College at Spokane, Wash. Her career as a legal secretary included work in county offices of Idaho County at Grangeville, state offices in Boise and federal offices in Washington, D.C., and in offices of corporations in Portland.

After her marriage on Sept. 29, 1945, to William F. Bill Lewis, an art education instructor in the Baker schools, Ruth worked for the school superintendent and also for an appraisal engineer.

Ruth and Bill loved to explore the West. During Bills summer vacations they took their young sons on car trips all over the Northwest, California, Montana, Canada and traveled by train to Texas. Throughout the years, Ruth was a constant champion of her younger brothers and sisters. She helped them through college and gave them encouragement and support in their lives.

On her husbands retirement, they moved to Boise where Ruth Lewis became a scholar in genealogical research. She established her membership in the Society of the Mayflower Descendants (serving as governor of the Idaho Society from 1982 through 1984), the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Colonial Dames.

As a member of boards of these various organizations, Ruth developed an extensive genealogy and family history of both the Everest and the Bourland families, much treasured by her relatives.

When Ruths husband, William F. Lewis, died in 1991, she moved to Roseburg to be near her son, Wendell E. Lewis.

Survivors include two sons, Wendell and his wife, Patty, of Oakland, and William Loren Lewis of San Francisco; two grandsons, Chris Lewis and his wife, Kim, and Steven Lewis and his wife, Mandy; a granddaughter, Lacie; two great-granddaughters, Ashley and Nicole; a great-grandson, Brody; a sister, Helen E. Douglas of San Rafael, Calif., and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a sister and two brothers.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society for Breast Cancer Research.

Roseburg Funeral Alternatives is assisting the family with arrangements.